News Release: Weekly review of hearings

Support widespread for mixed system

With the devil certainly in the detail, dozens of British Columbians told members of the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform their individual visions for how to improve BC's electoral system.

Students and a number of younger presenters were among those joining the chorus for change during hearings in Sechelt and Abbotsford today and earlier this week in Surrey, Coquitlam, North Vancouver and Whistler.

Five grade 11 and 12 students from Rockridge Secondary School, West Vancouver, tackled the issue of voter alienation Wednesday night in North Vancouver. Under their proposal for a mixed electoral system, 50 per cent of seats in the Legislature would be allocated to local representatives elected under a majority system using a preferential ballot. The remaining seats would be chosen using a proportional system.

At the same hearing, SFU student Tom Cornwall warmed to a similar theme, suggesting that strict party control of MLAs voting patterns made voters feel "local representation is meaningless". Later in the hearing, Chris Shaw added: "What we really see with youth is that they are voting with their feet; they are simply not going to the ballot box." And in Whistler Thursday, Sara Jennings said more youth would vote if they felt their vote would count and that "the result would somehow resemble their views."

The need for BC's electoral system to reflect the diversity of its population, while being simple and easy to understand was also discussed. In Surrey Monday night, James Proctor said each registered voter should receive a "voter's guide" prior to an election to help them select a party and the candidates.

Several speakers liked the idea of two ballots. In Sechelt earlier today, Arnett Tuffs said votes for the party should be decided based upon proportional representation, but said votes for local candidates be counted using the current first-past-the-post system. And in Coquitlam Tuesday, Drew Carmichael said that a mixed member proportional system (MMP) would be the best choice for BC because it's simple, would allow more representation for women and minorities and would make voters feel their votes counted.

Demand for MMP was widespread amongst presenters at every hearing this week. MMP was given a twist in Whistler, where Doug Morrison outlined his proposal for fractional voting – where MLAs’ voting power is weighed according to the size of their riding. He said it would allow citizens in ridings of different population sizes to have the same voting power. In Coquitlam, Stephen Broscoe felt MMP would work in BC if the seats in the Legislature were increased to 100 from the current 79.

Consensual - rather than adversarial - government also scored high marks. Assembly members were told not to fear coalition, or minority government. Backing MMP, Alison Watt said in North Vancouver: "We need more views in the Legislature to deal with complex issues that are facing this province." And in Sechelt, Alun Woolliams added: "A quick acting government that does not act in the best interest of the majority is not an effective government. Coalitions and governments with strong oppositions are more likely to make more moderate and stable policy decisions with a broader base of support."